Space JELL-O
What To Do
Prepare the JELL-O
1 Boil two cups of water in the microwave or on the stove. (REMEMBER: Always have an adult present when using the microwave or stove and when handling hot liquids.) Boil two cups of water in the microwave or on the stove.
2 Empty the two boxes of JELL-O powder mix into a clear glass bowl. Empty the two boxes of Jell-O powder mix into a clear glass bowl.
3 Add the boiling water to the JELL-O mix. Add the boiling water to the Jell-O mix.
4 Stir until the powder is dissolved. Stir until the powder is dissolved.
5 Refrigerate the JELL-O for four hours until firm. Refrigerate the Jell-O for four hours until firm.
Experiment With "Space"
1 Place the bowl of JELL-O on a table.
2 One at a time, place the different fruits, nuts, and candies on top of the Jell-O.

Each time you place a different object onto the JELL-O, watch through the side of the bowl. Observe how the JELL-O "space" bends around each "star" and "planet."

One at a time, place the different fruits, nuts, and candies on top of the Jell-O.
3 Cut the pieces of fruit in half and place them on the JELL-O. Notice how the JELL-O responds differently.
4 Try rolling a few objects across the Jell-O.
5 Record your observations. Be sure to answer the following questions:

  • Which object caused your JELL-O space to bend the most?
  • Which caused the least amount of bending?
  • Did the larger objects always cause the JELL-O to bend the most?
  • What happened when you rolled an object across the JELL-O?
6 You've just witnessed a scaled-down version of bending space. Einstein would be proud! Reward yourself by digging into your edible space.

Big Doesn't Always Bend More Space
Remember, the amount of mass an object has doesn't always depend on its size. Even though a marshmallow is larger than a peanut M&M, the marshmallow has less mass or less stuff inside of it.

 Stir until the powder is dissolved.
Try This!
If you like JELL-O fruit salads, make one by following the recipe above and adding slices of fresh fruit before you refrigerate the JELL-O. When you take your JELL-O fruit salad out of the refrigerator, notice the way that the JELL-O bends around the fruit. This is the same way that space bends around planets, stars, and you!